Bazan Librarians Review...

Recently I read Fat by author Sara Wylde which is the first of the Labels series. Claire is a business owner of a clothing line called Chubbalicious (a plus size clothing line). Claire is independent and lives with her best friend Kieran, a male entertainer at the hottest club in town and who goes by the name Finn McCool. The story starts off with the heroine Claire Howard being told, “You’re pretty, for a fat girl” by a coworker of Kieran’s. This scene sets the reader up for the emotional adventure, and a great read for those that can relate to Claire's story and know what it’s like to be fat. Claire, is confident and doesn't care what others think of her. Since we are in Claire’s POV and inner dialog, we get a closer look at the struggle she has had growing up being fat and how that has followed her through adulthood. If there is one thing Claire does not struggle with, it’s getting the attention of men, including that of her roommate and best friend Kieran and his cowo...

While in quarantine I read The Memory of Light by Francisco X. Stork. When it comes to books I am a big believer in drawing in the reader with your first chapter. I like to be hooked like a fish who have found the bait. That is what this book did to me. It hooked me on the first page and within the first chapter, I knew the story of Vicky Cruz was something I needed to read. The book starts off in the mind of 16-year-old protagonist Vicky Cruz as she goes through the motions of taking her life. At first, I thought maybe this story was duel POV (point of view), and that Vicky was a secondary character, but thankfully no. Vicky survives her failed suicide attempt and wakes up at Lakeview, a hospital for people with mental disorders. I love Vicky’s raw emotions and thought process as she recovers from “the deed”, which is what she calls her suicide attempt. After given the choice, she stays at Lakeview to receive treatment even though in her head she knows that she still wan...